Cost of Living Comparison Between Irkutsk and Windhoek Cost of Living Comparison Between Irkutsk and Windhoek

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,054 in Irkutsk versus $1,124 in Windhoek.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,712 in Irkutsk versus $1,850 in Windhoek.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,370 in Irkutsk versus $2,577 in Windhoek.

Living in Irkutsk costs roughly 6% less than in Windhoek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Irkutsk 21% lower, Windhoek 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.07 ₽633
$10.46 NAD 172
-22.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.12 ₽2,756
$39.12 NAD 645
-10.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ₽440
$5.42 NAD 89.4
3.51%
Cappuccino
$3.05 ₽240
$1.86 NAD 30.70
63.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₽123
$0.91 NAD 14.94
71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₽33.67
$0.97 NAD 15.93
-55.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.62 ₽127
$1.80 NAD 29.61
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₽195
$2.27 NAD 37.48
9.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 ₽109
$1.44 NAD 23.71
-4.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₽44.06
$0.82 NAD 13.52
-31.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₽139
$1.65 NAD 27.23
6.67%
Eggs
$2.29 ₽179
$2.80 NAD 46.12
-18.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.49 ₽1,216
$6.28 NAD 104
146.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 ₽511
$5.38 NAD 88.8
21.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.63 ₽991
$6.58 NAD 108
91.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 ₽184
$1.80 NAD 29.72
30.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 ₽194
$1.98 NAD 32.58
24.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 ₽244
$1.62 NAD 26.74
91.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 ₽375
$1.74 NAD 28.68
174.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ₽80.1
$2.00 NAD 32.92
-49.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ₽67.6
$1.81 NAD 29.85
-52.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 ₽171
$1.94 NAD 31.94
12.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₽56.7
$1.14 NAD 18.88
-36.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 ₽300
$2.72 NAD 44.85
40.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.56 ₽672
$6.98 NAD 115
22.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₽96.4
$1.40 NAD 23.03
-12.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₽179
$1.84 NAD 30.38
23.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 ₽38.65
$0.71 NAD 11.65
-30.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.27 ₽806
$41.09 NAD 678
-75.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.89 ₽148
$0.74 NAD 12.19
155.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₽25.67
$0.67 NAD 11.03
-50.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 ₽360
$11.73 NAD 193
-60.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 ₽62.0
$1.18 NAD 19.47
-33.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K ₽2.3M
$21.1K NAD 348.7K
39.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K ₽2.0M
$24.4K NAD 402.3K
5.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.7 ₽7,354
$119 NAD 1,960
-21.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.76 ₽530
$17.50 NAD 289
-61.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.29 ₽729
$50.1 NAD 827
-81.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.56 ₽3,105
$36.62 NAD 604
8.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.19 ₽1,113
$13.31 NAD 220
6.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 ₽392
$5.23 NAD 86.2
-4.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 ₽22.2K
$218 NAD 3,595
29.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,881 ₽540.1K
$5,275 NAD 87.0K
30.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.49 ₽2,943
$51.3 NAD 846
-26.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.59 ₽3,029
$26.72 NAD 441
44.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 ₽7,837
$86.7 NAD 1,430
15.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ₽8,184
$81.2 NAD 1,338
28.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 ₽43.1K
$494 NAD 8,146
11.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 ₽26.3K
$382 NAD 6,297
-12.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 ₽92.3K
$1,291 NAD 21.3K
-8.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 ₽59.6K
$921 NAD 15.2K
-17.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,032 ₽238.0K
$1,592 NAD 26.2K
90.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,821 ₽142.9K
$627 NAD 10.3K
190.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irkutsk
Windhoek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$789 ₽61.9K
$1,009 NAD 16.6K
-21.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.29
11.69
65.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Irkutsk: July 12, 2026

Last update for Windhoek: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $549 in Irkutsk and $494 in Windhoek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Windhoek pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Irkutsk vs $39.00 in Windhoek. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $198, with Windhoek cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Irkutsk vs Windhoek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Irkutsk wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Windhoek. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irkutsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irkutsk or in Windhoek?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Windhoek. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irkutsk compared to Windhoek?
Rent for a central apartment: $549 in Irkutsk versus $494 in Windhoek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Irkutsk and in Windhoek?
Childcare runs $283 in Irkutsk versus $218 in Windhoek. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Irkutsk or in Windhoek?
Shoppers in Windhoek pay roughly 34% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irkutsk or in Windhoek?
At $1,054 in Irkutsk versus $1,124 in Windhoek, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irkutsk but tight or insufficient in Windhoek. The gap between the two cities makes Irkutsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Irkutsk or Windhoek?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irkutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Windhoek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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